Album review: DAVID HASSELHOFF – Open Your Eyes

DAVID HASSELHOFF – Open Your Eyes

Cleopatra Records [Release date 29.09.19]

David Hasselhoff, or the Hoff to his many fans, is no stranger to the recording studio having released his first album way back in 1985.  He has always been big in Germany, indeed this album has already charted at number 57 in the German album charts (and he has had number one albums in Austria and Switzerland!). ‘Open Your Eyes’ is a set of covers with Hasselhoff joined by a number of musical guests, with an overriding theme of the 80’s in many of the songs.

There are some off the wall collaborations on here, the pick of which has to be the Hoff teaming up with Ministry for the Neil Diamond classic ‘Sweet Caroline’. Musical genius or madness, you decide! Nice version of Glen Campbell’s ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ which features a guest spot from country legend Charlie Daniels.

The lead single and album title track (originally by The Lords of The New Church) and Echo & the Bunnymen’s ‘Lips Like Sugar’ (featuring 80’s haircut disasters the A Flock Of Seagulls) work very well indeed. Both successfully mix 80s sounds and a more modern production.

L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns pops-up on Whitesnake’s ‘Here I Go Again’. Oh dear he is no Coverdale but the guitar solo and the fact it is a damn fine song saves the day – just.

There are however some duffers like the Sinatra classic ‘That’s Life’. A brave attempt but nobody is going to beat the David Lee Roth version for me. Also ‘Jump In My Car’ featuring Todd Rundgren falls flat. Bowie’s ‘Heroes’, despite Hasselhoff showing off his German midway through the song, doesn’t really suit him and the Archies ‘Sugar Sugar’ was bad enough first time around without the need of another version of the song.

Not the best singer but he certainly puts his heart into the songs and he must have enjoyed recording them. One for streaming and playlists rather than having the complete album methinks. ***

Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply